Neosho Wildlife Area

Located on the broad, flat flood plain below the junction of Flat Rock Creek and the Neosho River, the wildlife area is a man-made marsh developed by the Department in 1960. The area covers 3,246 acres. The five largest pools on the area represent 1,675 acres of the 1,787 of intensively managed wetlands. There are sixteen independently managed wetlands throughout the area. The area was primarily designed, and is managed to furnish a resting and feeding place for migratory waterfowl.

Three of the sixteen pools are managed in a moist soil environment through a water level manipulation plan. Four green tree marshes ranging in size from five to fifteen acres offer a different type of hunting opportunity for the sportsman using the area. Area personnel plant an average of 400 acres of corn, milo, buckwheat or millet in the hunting pools. The grain is left in the field and inundated in the fall.

The 800-acre refuge pool is closed to all hunting, foot and vehicle traffic during the waterfowl season. The water level of this pool fluctuates naturally throughout the seasons and provides good aquatic habitat for waterfowl. Fishing is allowed from March 31 until August 31. Good fishing can be found at times in the Neosho River, Flat Rock Creek and Brogan Creek, existing in part on the wildlife area.

Manager: Monte Manbeck Phone: (620)-449-2539

From St. Paul travel east on Highway 47 2 miles to Wallace Rd.; turn south and travel approximately 1.25 miles. Office on west side of road

Kansas outdoorsmen enjoyed their first season of waterfowl hunting at the Neosho Wildlife Area (WA) in 1961. Today the Neosho WA, managed by the KDWPT, anchors the premier SE Kansas waterfowling region which lies along the Neosho River. With the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Neosho WA approaching, it is beginning to show its age. Much of the area’s original infrastructure has exceeded its design life and badly needs replacing. Not only does this aging infrastructure require an increasing amount of annual maintenance and manpower to operate, it is also beginning to fail to provide the vital food resources waterfowl rely on in the region.

As this milestone anniversary approaches, the KDWP and Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU) have begun planning a major renovation of the area. This work will ensure that the citizens of Kansas are able to continue enjoying this historic place.

RENOVATION CONCEPT

The renovation project has two objectives. The first is to improve the amount and quality of habitat available annually for waterfowl and other wildlife species. The second objective is to decrease the annual operation and maintenance costs at the area.

PROJECT DETAILS

Area staff is still diligently working on this project. DU submitted the first NAWCA Grant for Neosho WA in February of 2013. The grant unfortunately was denied and did not receive enough points to be funded. DU resubmitted the grant in July of 2013, to once again be denied. The score improved but several other projects also scored well and government funding was on the low side for that grant cycle. In August of 2013 Neosho WA staff hosted a tour for the Upper Mississippi Joint Lake Board to showcase the area hoping to improve the chances of the grant being funded.

April 2015 News

After applying for NAWCA twice with no success the Department decided to pursue alternative funding or grants to get the project completed. In January of 2014 Neosho Area Manager, Monte Manbeck and Region 5 Public Land Supervisor, Jason Deal wrote a Pittman Robertson Grant and submitted to USFWS. In January of 2015 both grants were accepted and approved. The total dollar figures for this renovation project will probably exceed the 3 million range.

Schwab Eaton Engineering is currently working on cost estimates, permitting and design plans for the future Neosho Wildlife Area. Design of the main area is close to complete and permits have been sent tot the appropriate parties to begin that process. It is anticipated that dirt work will begin in the Summer of 2015.

There will be a public meeting on May the 22nd, 2015 to discuss duck zone boundaries and the renovation project timelines. The location will be the function Junction which is where we have had our last couple of meetings. For those of you that have not attended it is just North of the R&F Implement dealership on the 47 - 59 hwy junction. I look forward to seeing everyone there and having some great discussion about the future of the area and waterfowling in SE Kansas.

SOUTH UNITPUMPPROJECT

The South Unit Pump Project has been a very challenging project to say the least. After a couple of years of hard work, research and engineering we are finally nearing the end of the project. We are currently working on getting rip rap placed and building a tower to keep the electrical equipment up and out of the flood plain. However with the weather it has been nearly impossible to do much work this spring. Area staff will be watching the conditions and once it is dry enough to get rock trucks in we will resume work.

If you have any questions about the status of the project or the area please feel free to contact the area office at 620-449-2539.

NEW FACES

Some of you may not have heard but former assistant manager Bryan Sorensen has moved on to pursue other employment in the North Central part of the state so there will be a new face at Neosho WA in the summer of 2015. The position has been advertised and hopefully we will have someone new in place by mid June 2015. As soon as someone new is hired I will update the site with a short Biography of the new individual.

In 1959, the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission purchased the initial 2,975.5 acres. In 1988 an additional 270 acres were purchased through a fifty percent cost share agreement with Ducks Unlimited Inc. The area was first opened to waterfowl hunting in the fall of 1962.

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Access into refuge pool from March 1 through October 1 for fishing and wildlife viewing.

+/- 20,000 ducks, beginning to see some species variation. Snow goose numbers are fluctuating daily

Mallard Migration Rank

MMR=5

0= No Mallards, 1= Very Few Mallards, 5= Moderate Numbers, 10= Peak

Water level

Drawdown efforts have continued. Pools will be completely dewatered by the end of next week.

Hunting conditions

Expected hunting success

For the 2014-2015 Regular season 2732 hunters harvested 4422 ducks for a 1.6 BPH average. The season seemed a little slow with the weather patterns and one mass migration that we encountered. However, this is still a very respectable BPH average for public hunting. We still have around 90 hunters that have not logged out of isportsman so please check your account and make sure you have checked out. Please remember the isportsman electronic check in and out system will be live starting this spring and no paper cards will be available. Thanks so much for your cooperation and support in transitioning into this new system!!!

Comments

2014-15 South East Zone season dates are Nov. 8-9 and Nov. 15-Jan 25.

If the red check out sign is out at check station all hunters are required to stop. Thanks

Neosho WA is transitioning to a new daily permit system called isportsman. Hunters will need to register via PC prior to hunting at Neosho WA. Hunters will be able to login via PC, smartphone, or call in from cell phone or landline phone each day prior to hunitng to get a daily permit, and report back similar to the paper daily permits. Please visit https://kdwpt.isportsman.net/ to register prior to hunting season.

Please remember to fill out the permit with accurate information. THIS INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CURRENT AND FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF THE AREA. FILL OUT ONLY YOUR INDIVIDUAL HARVEST EFFORTS, i.e., NOT A GROUP HARVEST TOTAL.

Waterfowl hunting in Pool 8 is restricted to youth hunters and their mentor on weekends and holidays.